Container



Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE A, ,WALTER, F ITHACA, NEW TORK CONTAINER Application filed November 27, 1981. Serial No. 577,609.

This invention relates in general to containers and more especially to a container adapted to easily discharge the contents therefrom.

Containers heretofore in use have certain disadvantages. One of the principal disadvantages is that in containers having a spout,

the spout is so located that it is extremely difiicult to remove all of the contents. The containers not having spouts have to be torn apart at the top, thereby subjecting the contents to dampness and further destroying the neat appearance of the container.

An object of this invention is to provide a container in which all of the contents can be easily removed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container having a spout.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a container having a spout on the side thereof which may be easily opened.

A further object of this invention is to pro vide a container having a wrapper covering same with a perforated tear strip over a spout to facilitate opening same.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a container which protects its contents at all times from the atmosphere.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in theparts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arra11gement,without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention broadly comprehends the provision of a container having side and end portions with integral flaps for closing same. A spout is positioned at the top of one of the sides and the top of the spout projects slightly above the end flaps when in a folded position and into a space formed by the cut-away portions on the folded side flaps. There is also provided a wrapper for the so constructed container which has a perforated tear strip positioned over the spout to facilitate opening same.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown, in the accompanymg drawin means for carrying the same into practical e ect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

Figure 1 isa perspective view showing my novel container.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top portion of the container showing the perforated strip torn away and the spout open.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top portion of the container showing the flaps before folding and the portion for receiving the spout.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spout.

Figure 5 is a view taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the various figures in the drawing wherein the same parts are designated by like characters of reference through out, and more particularly to Figure 3, there is shown a container having side portions 1 and end portions 2. Integral with and extending above the side portions 1 are side flaps 3. Similar end flaps L extend above the end portions 2.

The container may be constructed of any suitable material, such as card board. A

single strip of the material is used for the containers and is bent in such a manner as to form the sides and ends. Such bends are indicated enerally by the reference numeral 5. Before the strip of material is formed into a container, the portion thereof to act as flaps is cut on a line, as indicated by the reference numeral 6, corresponding to the bends 5. The flaps are then bent as at 7 in order a position closing the container. The container is then formed and the two free ends of the strip of material may be joined by any suitable means, such as glue or staples. The bottom of the container is formed in a'manner like that described for the top.

At the top of one of the side portions is a cut-away portion 8. The cut-away portion 8 is positioned in the middle of the side portion at the top that they may be moved to 9 thereof and immediately 1 towards each other.

below the bottom of the cut-away portion is a slit 9, for reasons hereinafter appearing. The sides of the cut-away portlon converge slightly toward each other, the reason for which will also later appear.

A spout 10, constructed of any suitable metal, is adapted to. fit intothe cut-away portion 8. As shown in Figure 4, the spout comprises a front piece 11 and side wings.

12 bent at right angles to the front piece. The front piece 11 tapers slightly from the bottom to top to conform to the converging sides of the cut-away portion 8. The tops of the front and side wings are curved and the curved portion of the front piece projects slightly above the tops of the curved side wings to form a lip 13. The side wings 12 taper from the tops thereof to a point near the bottom of the front piece 11 to form a section 12 between the bottom of the side wing and the bottom of the front piece. A projection 14: bent, as at 15, is formed on the bottom of the front piece 11. A lug 16 is stamped from each side piece and acts as a stop for the spout.

The spout 11 is inserted into the cut-away portion 8 by passing the projection 14 into the slit 9 and forcing the entire spout inwardly. As will be noted, the section 12' engages that portion of the end between the slit 9 and the bottom of the cut-away portion 8. In view of this engagement and the flush fit between the side wings 12 and the converging sides of the cut-away portion 8, a tight fit is provided.

In this manner, the spout is maintained in position. When it is desired to open the spout, the lip 13 is pressed on the inside and a slight pressure exerted thereon. In this manner, the spout is forced outwardly, moving about the bent portion 15 of the projection 14 as an axis. In the construction shown, the spout is-not forced all the way out of the cut-away portion by the slight pressure exerted as the lugs 16 engage the side of the container thereby stopping its forward movement.

The container above described can be easily placed in a flattened position for shipping, thereby conserving much space. After the spout 11 has been inserted in the cut-away portion 8, the side wings 12 may be bent backward in such a manner that the surface of each side wing is forced against the in ner side of the end portion. By this arrangement the spout is positively maintained in position. The entire container may then be flattened out by forcing the side pieces The bends 5, as above described, will allow the side and end portions of the container to be placed in a flattened position. It will thus be seen that it is possible to ship many more containers in a given space, thereby decreasing the cost of the container when it is not manufactured at the point where it is to be filled with its contents.

In order to prevent accidental opening of the spout and also to provide means for easily opening it when the container is completely closed and filled, the side flaps 3 are provided with semi-circular cut-away portions 17. The cut-away ortions 17 are in the center of each end ofthe side flaps and nearest the spout. While I have shown and described semi-circular cut-away portions 17, other shapes may be cut from the side flaps 3. As willybe noted, when the side fla s 3 are forced downwardly and upon the end aps 4, they overlap each other and the cut-away portions 17 coincide thereby forming a space in which the lip 13 of the s out is received. The space so formed is su ciently large to permit the insertion of a finger to open the spout and at the same time prevent accidental engagement of the curved portion 13 with an object thereby forcing the spout open.

The end and side flaps may be glued or otherwise held together when the container is closed.

In Figure 1, I have shown a wrapper 18 covering the container so formed. Any suitable paper may be used for making the wrapper and it can be placed around and secured to the container in any suitable well known manner.

Before the wrapper 18 is placed around the container, a perforated tear strip 19 is provided. The tear strip is of such size that when the wrapper is placed around the container, it will just cover the spout and the space formed in the top of the container by the side flaps 3. Perforations 2O outline the tear strip 19 with the exception of the bottom which as at 21, holds the strip to the remainder of the wrapper. The entire outline of the tear strip may, however, be perforated if such is desired.

When a consumer desires to use a part of the contents of the container, it is only necessary to place a finger on the portion of the tear str? covering the space above referred to and orce that portion of the strip from the remainder of the wrapper. The strip ma then be loosened its entire length. With the curved part 13 projecting into the uncovered space, a finger can be easily inserted into the space and force the spout outwardly to empty a part of the contents of the container.

The space formed by the coinciding cutaway portions 17 is of sufficient height to prevent the curved portion 13 from projecting thereabove. In this manner, accidental engagement of the spout with objects thereby opening it, is eliminated.

As before mentioned, the sides of the cutaway portion 8 converge towards the top of the container and the spout 10 is adapted to fit flush within said cut-away portion. By this structure, the contents of the container can enter the spout in a larger quantity than that which leaves the spout thereby forcing the contents outward in a steady stream.

My invention may be used for packaging an connnodity which it is desired to use in relatively small portions at a time. Such commodities are salt, sugar, rice and the like but it is to be understood that my invention 1s not limited to these commodities only.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that I have provided a container from which all of the contents may be easily removed. I have also provided a container which eliminates accidental opening of the spout. There is also provided a container having a wrapper which is so marked as to easily locate the spout and permit easy opening thereof.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction here-- in set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container comprising side portions and end portions, flaps extending from each portion adapted to be folded to close the container, thefiaps extending from said side portions having a cut-away portion at one end, a spout at the top of one side portion projecting slightly above the folded end flaps and in the cut-away portion to enable easy opening of said spout.

2. A container comprising side portions and end portions, flaps extending from each portion adapted to be folded to close the container, the flaps extending from said side portions having a cut-away portion at one end, the top of the end adjacent the side flaps having cut-away portions having a cut-away portion and a spout adapted to fit the cutaway portion in the end, the top of said spout pro]ecting slightly above the folded end flaps and in the cut-away portion of the side flaps to enable easy opening of said spout.

3. A container comprising sideportions and end portions, flaps extending from each portion adapted to be folded to close the container, the flaps extending from said side portions having a cut-away portion at one end,

, a spout at the top of one side portion rojecting slightly above the folded end aps and in the cut-away portion and a wrapper for said container having a perforated tear strip positioned over said spout to facilitate opening thereof.

4. A container comprising side portions and end portions, flaps extemling'froni each portion adapted to be folded to close the' container, the flaps extending from said side portlons liavlng a cutaway portion at one In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

GEORGE A. WALTER. 

